“Young people’s education in our country would not be adequate without a serious accent on the international activities in schools.”
Charles Clark, PM from the UK, at the launch of the British Ministry of Education international strategy, November 2004.

International contacts in education are of crucial importance for young people’s development and competitiveness. In a world, which is becoming more and more integrated due to the media and technology our children are world citizens. Labour market on which they will compete is becoming more and more globalized.

Foreign language literacy, other cultures fluency and ability to work with other colleagues of diverse values and background to achieve common goals are key elements of high quality modern education.

Global Gateway is an online centre for materials and services in support of international activities of educational institutions across the world. The portal has been developed and managed by the British Council on commission by the British Ministry of Education. The portal supports school teachers in all aspects of their joint work with partners from other countries – from searching for partner schools through projects management and organization of classes on international themes to exchange of teachers and students, fundraising and accreditation of schools’ international activities.

The Global Gateway key components are:

• searching machine for partner schools – a convenient way to find a partner school abroad;
• special zones for the different types of site users, incl. teachers;
• online collaborators – experts who help to find the necessary services and materials;
• advice and recommendations for establishing partnerships with foreign educational institutions;
• school curricula – interesting and detailed curricula that teachers could use readily or adjust to their own needs;
• library with links to other sites – high quality sites selected by specialists in different school subjects; easy to use searching machine for internet links to information on interesting and accessible projects for international cooperation for all ages and grades;
• programmes for international exchange of school teachers and students;
• practical advice on fundraising for projects;
• opportunities for professional development;
• information on contests and competitions and other opportunities for recognition of schools’ international activities.

The portal Global Gateway is an element of the British Council’s Project „ICT in education” being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science. In January 2006 with the approval of MoE Bulgaria became an international strategic partner in the Global Gateway.

Visit the Global Gateway site to find new ways to develop your international activities.

www.globalgateway.org.uk/bulgaria/